Mineral Question

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cfpinz

cfpinz

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 8, 2005
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City & State/Province
Virginia
Just wanted some opinions on the mineral mix listed below. Our local beef association takes up orders a couple times a year for this stuff. I bought a pallet of it a month or so ago and the cows don't eat as much as what I had been feeding, assuming higher salt content as my other mineral was 13%-15% salt. I don't like it as much but the price is around $7 per bag.

Calcium 12%-14%
Phosphorous 6%
Salt 25%-27%
Magnesium 12%
Cobalt 10ppm
Copper 2000ppm
Iodine 30ppm
Iron 2500ppm
Manganese 2500ppm
Selenium 70ppm
Zinc 4500ppm
Vit A 200000 IU/LB
Vit D 25000 IU/LB
Vit E 200 IU/LB

Everyone's opinions are greatly appreciated.

cfpinz
 
cfpinz,

I use a mineral called Wind and Rain made by Purina. The salt is a little lower than yours, and mine has Potassium in it. IMO 12% magnesium seems like a lot. Other than that, they are fairly close with only a few differences. Bottom line is that you've got to match your mineral program with your forage/soil content. Just the fact that you are providing minerals shows that you care; you'd be surprised the people who just put out salt blocks.

I have to admit, though, I'm envious of you. I pay almost twice what you pay for a 50lb bag. (I'm assuming yours is a 50 lb bag)
 
cypress - I have used the Wind and Rain before and really liked it. If cost were not a factor that is what my cattle would get. (The local Purina dealer wants $21 a bag for the IGR formula!) I really liked the texture and the fact that if it got a little wet it didn't clump like the minerals I use now. Our Co-Op sells another mineral that I really like. It's made by Young's and is in the 13 to 14 dollar range. And yes, my bags are 50 lbs but I buy it by the ton to get it a little cheaper.
 
TurnThatCowLooseMaw":29pnwn6s said:
It does appear that way May have to rethink things a bit
Click to expand...
There's plenty of good minerals out there for a lot less money.You're making somebody fat, and it aint your Cattle.IMHO, the days of the high dollar Minerals are numbered. Do a little research and you'll find theres brands out there that will save you 40-45%. Especially if you buy by the Ton.
 
$7/bag....sounds really cheap for a quality mineral. Check sources....oxides are pretty low quality versus sulfates, chlorides. You said they don't eat it as much....are they eating enough to get proper nutrition? Palatability and intake are important! A cow will eat about one bag per year. A $16 mineral will cost you $9/cow/year more. A difference of less than 2% weaning rate will more than pay for this, not to mention differences in health, etc. If this mineral isn't weather resistant, some extra loss to wind/rain will add to its cost.
 
what about mineral blocks? I saw some all-in-one mineral blocks(with selenium) the other day for 6-8 dollars. Or am I missing something? We put out trace mineral blocks year-round.
 
TxStateCowboy":qnlmym9b said:
what about mineral blocks? I saw some all-in-one mineral blocks(with selenium) the other day for 6-8 dollars. Or am I missing something? We put out trace mineral blocks year-round.
Click to expand...

Mineral blocks don't seem to work nearly as well as loose mineral for us. Too much licking and not enough mineral for the effort required.
 
TxStateCowboy":2cg4ufcc said:
what about mineral blocks? I saw some all-in-one mineral blocks(with selenium) the other day for 6-8 dollars. Or am I missing something? We put out trace mineral blocks year-round.
Click to expand...

"Trace" mineral blocks are just that.....trace of minerals w/o much else.
 
rk
$7/bag....sounds really cheap for a quality mineral. Check sources....oxides are pretty low quality versus sulfates, chlorides. You said they don't eat it as much....are they eating enough to get proper nutrition? Palatability and intake are important! A cow will eat about one bag per year. A $16 mineral will cost you $9/cow/year more. A difference of less than 2% weaning rate will more than pay for this, not to mention differences in health, etc. If this mineral isn't weather resistant, some extra loss to wind/rain will add to its cost.
Click to expand...

rk - Thank you for the information, I don't have the label in front of me but I will check and see what the sources are. As far as intake, I would say that I use an equivalent of more than one bag per cow per year. Our county beef producer's association takes up bids on this specific mineral from a bunch of different feed mills and then goes with the lowest bid. We usually get a couple tractor trailer loads at a time, so this helps. Thanks to everyone for your responses.

cfpinz
 
Most minerals I've seen recommend consumption around 4oz/hd/day. My calculations say that should be 91#/year at that rate.
I've always been told, a cow can spend 24 hours a day licking a mineral block and she will NEVER get what she needs out of it. Total waste of money.
I really don't care if you pay $10 or $20, first they have to consume enough of the product to do what it is supposed to do. Read the label, what do they recommend for consumption?
 
Jeanne - Simme Valley":14gtuj7m said:
Most minerals I've seen recommend consumption around 4oz/hd/day. My calculations say that should be 91#/year at that rate.
I've always been told, a cow can spend 24 hours a day licking a mineral block and she will NEVER get what she needs out of it. Total waste of money.
I really don't care if you pay $10 or $20, first they have to consume enough of the product to do what it is supposed to do. Read the label, what do they recommend for consumption?
Click to expand...
On a daily basis, I try to talk people out of buying Trace blocks, to no avail. I try to educate customers, not that I'm any expert, but I cant sway them to believe they are nearly worthless. The myth lives on.Long live Dyed salt!!
 
I bought some loose mineral from vitaferm last summer for a ridiculous price. the cows didn't like it maybe too much salt i don't know. I went back to western feed mills loose mineral. I am not impressed with it either but it is half the price. Can anybody suggest a resaonable priced loose mineral maybe with igr for summertime?
 
buckaroo_bif":1tdlfuf1 said:
I bought some loose mineral from vitaferm last summer for a ridiculous price. the cows didn't like it maybe too much salt i don't know. I went back to western feed mills loose mineral. I am not impressed with it either but it is half the price. Can anybody suggest a resaonable priced loose mineral maybe with igr for summertime?
Click to expand...
Sweetlix.Moderate price. Great results.
 
Thanks Crowder might look at that this spring. We use sweetlix wheat pasture mineral, the cattle love it Almost too much.!
 
buckaroo_bif":mkg7jjwa said:
I bought some loose mineral from vitaferm last summer for a ridiculous price. the cows didn't like it maybe too much salt i don't know. I went back to western feed mills loose mineral. I am not impressed with it either but it is half the price. Can anybody suggest a resaonable priced loose mineral maybe with igr for summertime?
Click to expand...

I haven;t found any monerals with IGR that's reasonably priced!
One ofthe problems with trying to analyze a mineral tag from another area is the differences that are required based on locality. Most of the minerals that I'm familiar with are different in MO then what the requirements are in CA, FL, whatever.

dun
 
Yea my cows don't much like the mineral I feed them but they eat it for the salt.

I had to remove my salt blocks to get them to eat much of it.
 
Crowderfarms":1ddcn8hy said:
Jeanne - Simme Valley":1ddcn8hy said:
Most minerals I've seen recommend consumption around 4oz/hd/day. My calculations say that should be 91#/year at that rate.
I've always been told, a cow can spend 24 hours a day licking a mineral block and she will NEVER get what she needs out of it. Total waste of money.
I really don't care if you pay $10 or $20, first they have to consume enough of the product to do what it is supposed to do. Read the label, what do they recommend for consumption?
Click to expand...
On a daily basis, I try to talk people out of buying Trace blocks, to no avail. I try to educate customers, not that I'm any expert, but I cant sway them to believe they are nearly worthless. The myth lives on.Long live Dyed salt!!
Click to expand...
Jeanne,

UR right, 4 oz is 91lb/yr. I'd be tickled to get 4 oz/hd into them each day of the year, but haven't seen it, even with really palatable mineral. Getting that level pretty tough when there is good green grass in the spring. In fall/winter when feeding good protein supplement, mineral consumption usually on low side, which is understandable because they get mineral nutrition from the protein supplement if it too is well fortified.
 

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